394 DR MORRISON WATSON AND MR ALFRED H. YOUNG 
The anatomy of Beluga has previously engaged the attention of Dr 
Barctay* in this country, and of Professor Wymant in America. The 
descriptions of both these anatomists are, however, so very incomplete, even 
in respect of the few structures commented upon, that we are enabled, whilst 
supplementing their observations, to record also the result of the investigation 
of several parts hitherto unnoticed, and to complete a detailed account of the 
whole of the viscera. The external characters of the white whale being already 
well known from the description of Drs Barcuay and NEILL, a further reference 
to them is rendered superfluous. 
On such points as it has seemed desirable, our description of the soft parts 
has been supplemented by means of illustrations sketched by one of ourselves 
from recent dissections; these, we trust, will render this memoir of more 
value to future observers. ; 
Dr Barctay’s specimen, a nearly adult male, was shot in the Firth of Forth 
during the year 1815. Prior to this two young Belugas had been cast ashore 
near Thurso ; whilst subsequently but a single instance of its occurrence on the 
British coast is recorded, being that of a specimen which was stranded ou one 
of the Orkney Islands in 1845. 
The Beluga examined by us was a female, which, from its size, and from the 
condition of its epiphysial ossifications, we judged to be three-fourths grown. 
Teeth were present in both the upper and lower jaws. Its dimensions were as — 
follows :— 
FI. IN 
Length from the truncated extremity of the snout (following the 
curvature of the spine) to the notch in the middle line of the tail, 8 74 
Length from snout to blow hole, 0, et 
Breadth of blow hole, 0 24 
Length from snout to eye, 0 9 
From snout to base of pectoral fin, 2 2 
Length of pectoral fin, Oia! 0) 
Breadth of pectoral fin at the baa 0 4 
dj ” broadest part, 0 54 
Breadth of caudal fin, it 8h 
Depth of notch in caudal fin, } 0 Ie 
From junction of pectoral fin with Gaay over joeem to corre- 
sponding part on opposite side, : ; 2 i 
In the course of this paper frequent reference has necessarily been made to 
the writings of previous observers. To avoid the necessity of numerous lengthy 
* “ Account of a Beluga or White Whale,” Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society, 
vol. iii. ; 
+ “ Description of a White Fish or White Whale” (Beluga borealis), Boston Journal of Natural 
History, vol. vii. 
